UK Sites

 

 

General

 

Google    http://www.google.co.uk/

UK version of Google. Or, search regular Google and add: site:.uk

 

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Business, Consumers, Statistics

 

BusinessLink        http://www.businesslink.gov.uk

Information for small businesses

 

Consumer Direct     http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Government-funded telephone and online service offering information and advice on consumer issues.

 

National Statistics Online       http://www.statistics.gov.uk/

Free access to data produced by the Office for National Statistics, government departments and devolved administrations.

 

UK Currency Guide       http://www.milesfaster.co.uk/information/uk-currency.htm 

This site is geared to tourists to the UK but provides a handy overview of UK currency.

 

VAT (Value Added Tax)       http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/DG_4015895

Guide to the VAT, the tax that you pay when you buy goods and services in the European Union (EU), including the United Kingdom (from the DirectGov site)

 

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Education

 

UK Education System      http://uk.internationalstudent.com/study_uk/education_system/

Overview of educational system with links to the various levels.  Clicking on the link will open a new window.

 

 

Chart of English System of Education     http://www.intense.co.uk/doc-pic/system/frameset.htm

Choose England from the main page here.  The chart that appears gives both public and private educational systems in England, including age range for each level, which can help when translating to US levels.

 

National Curriculum        http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/

Divided into Key Stage 1-2 and 3-4, the site contains information about the national curriculum, including the values, subjects, teaching requirements, etc for each Key Stage.  Under each subject, the program of study is set out.

 

Scottish Educational System     http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/FAQs 

This gives an overview of the Scottish system, which differs from the English system.

 

Scottish Curriculum         http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum

Scottish curriculum information; this is not statutory (ie not mandatory)

 

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Genealogy

 

UK and Ireland Genealogy       http://www.genuki.org.uk/

Good place to start

 

ScotlandsPeople       http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

Best place to start when researching family history in Scotland.

 

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Government

 

DirectGov: Website of the UK government          http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

The Site Index and the Directories links are useful.

 

Find Your MP       http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/commons/l/

This site contains general information about Parliament, including find your Member of Parliament (MP) by postal code. MP look up is also available.

 

The Scottish Government     http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Home 

Scotland has its own Parliament that has power over issues such as Transport, Health and Education. Also look here for Scottish Government Publications. 

For information on Scottish Parliament and MPs, see: Scottish Parliament www.scottish.parliament.uk 

 

UK Government Publications        http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts.htm

All UK General and Public Acts from 1988 onwards and all Local Acts from 1991.  You can search for legislation or track legislation as well.

General Register Office  http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/

 

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Homework Help

 

BBC Schools        http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/

Lists useful resources categorized by age, as well as information on Bitesize, the BBC's online study support resource for school-age students in the UK. It is designed to aid students in both school work and, for older students, exams.

 

Webtastic   http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/children/webtastic/

Sites arranged by subject for homework and fun, by the librarians at Westminster Library (London).

 

Young People's Trust for the Environment    http://www.yptenc.org.uk/

Good site to answer children's questions about Animals or Environmental Issues.

 

 

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Language

 

The Best of British          http://www.effingpot.com/index.shtml 

Site with extensive list of British words and their meanings in American English. Divided into categories such as Slang, People, Motoring, etc. 

British-American Dictionary        http://www.peak.org/~jeremy/dictionary/dictionary/dictionary.php

As well as a dictionary in which you can search British or American words and get the equivalent in the other, this site has fascinating articles on the differences between the two.

 

Cambridge Online Dictionary       http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

Online dictionary from Cambridge U Press. Default dictionary is English, drop down menu lets you select American English or Idioms.

 

Phrase Finder      http://www.phrases.org.uk/ 

Search box lets you type in a phrase to find the meaning. Includes over 1,200 English sayings, phrases and idioms.

 

Law 

 

Lawlinks   http://www.kent.ac.uk/lawlinks/index.html

 

Lawlinks is a great starting point for legal research. It is maintained by the University of Kent and has a UK focus, but also contains some EU and international links.

 

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Libraries

 

COPAC academic and national library catalogue     http://www.copac.ac.uk/

Gives free access to the merged online catalogues of major University and National Libraries in the UK and Ireland, including the British Library

 

DirectGov         http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

Click on Find Your Council, then search by postcode or name; local council webpage is linked. From there, select link to Library.

 

Find a Library       http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk/discover/findLibrary.do

This site allows you to submit a full or partial postcode or a town name - the library authority for that post code/town will then display. From the People's Network.

 

Museums, Libraries, and Archives Council          http://www.mla.gov.uk/webdav/harmonise?Page/@id=90

Check out their Links

 

Scottish Library and Information Resources         http://scone.strath.ac.uk/slir/

It provides addresses and contact details of cultural, educational, research, and public information services located in Scotland. Use their links to search for archives, art galleries, libraries, museums, and contacts.

 

UK Public Libraries on the Web     http://dspace.dial.ipex.com/town/square/ac940/weblibs.html

 

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Literature

 

Fantastic Fiction      http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk

Bibliographies for over 15,000 authors, information on over 250,000 books.

 

The Poetry Society         http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/

Classes, workshops, readings -- everything the poet or poetry fan might want to know.

 

Find a book        http://www.find-book.co.uk/search.aspx

 

Compare book prices between UK retailers & buy.

 

 

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Subject Guides

 

BUBL Link         http://bubl.ac.uk/index.html

Selected Internet resources (primarily British) covering all academic subject areas organized by Dewey classification.  You need to drill down a bit to get past all the subclassifications of Dewey before you get to resources and there are a few dead links, but great depth of coverage of British websites.  BUBL UK has specific links to organization and institution sites.

 

Cyberlibrary        http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/leisureandtourism/libraries/cyberlibrary.htm

The cyberLibrary contains links to hundreds of websites chosen, described and organised by librarians from public library services across south-west England

 

People's Network Subject Guide      http://www.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk/discover/browse.do?auth_id=25

Developed by the Enquire project.

 

Westminster Libraries Subject Guide         http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/gateway/

Alphabetical list of subject links chosen by librarians.

 

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Travel

Google Maps (UK)       http://maps.google.co.uk/

Map of the UK from Google Maps. Some directions are available: go to Google Maps, click Get Directions.

 

The Internet Guide to Scotland        http://www.scotland-info.co.uk/

Launched in May 1996, this site is now recommended by books including Lonely Planet guidebook for Scotland and 'The Rough Guide to Scotland'. 

 

National Rail      http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

The official site for planning train travel. 

 

Traveline       http://www.traveline.info/index.htm

Public transportation information for journeys around the UK.

 

The Official Scottish Tourism Board Site         http://www.visitscotland.com/

Includes useful links to Scottish Fact File and what to see and do in Scotland.

 

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Miscellaneous 

Postcode Finder       http://postcode.royalmail.com/portal/rm/postcodefinder

Use the "Find an Address" tab to identify a town or locality based on the postcode, or conversely use the "Find a Postcode" tab to find the postcode when you know the address.

 

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